Heinrich says he won’t jump into hospital issue

April 15, 2009

Heinrich listens to a constituent in Tome.

United States Rep. Martin Heinrich said during a townhall meeting last night that he won’t get involved in the fight over the proposed county hospital.

“I’m generally for hospitals,” he said, acknowledging the hospital controversy. “I don’t know the answer for your community.”

While he expressed an interest in utilizing federal funds “to work to your advantage” to “provide healthcare facilities,” he wouldn’t commit to a hospital or any location for healthcare facilities. He said it should be up to the county and municipal governments to work out the details.

Heinrich was in Tome to discuss his first 100 days in Congress and hear constituents’ concerns.

He rolled smoothly through several talking points on issues of national importance, such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, children’s health insurance and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He then took audience questions that were written on cards.

One questions asked if there would be any effort on his part to extend the Manzano Expressway through Isleta Pueblo to Albuquerque.

“The first thing I will seek federal funds for are the portions of the Manzano Expressway that are just not safe right now,” he said. He told his audience he had toured the expressway and knows it has potholes and no shoulders.

Asked about the ongoing struggle rural communities have against development, he said he would not get in the middle of determining what should be agricultural and what should be developed. He said that’s “not a role for Washington to play” because “we’re too detached.”

“We have an incredible and beautiful tradition of agriculture,” he said. He would like to see Valencia County tap into federal funding to preserve farms and ranches “before the pressure is there to develop it,” much like the preservation efforts in Corrales.

In response to other questions, he said he would help the Tome-Adelino Fire Department find money for the renovation of the firehouse, which is underway but is lacking funds. He also acknowledged problems the county has fighting crime because of a lack of sheriff’s deputies, a major concern of Meadow Lake, Jarales and Rio Communities residents.

“It’s very challenging to provide law enforcement among a large geographic area,” he said, noting he has spoken with Sheriff Rene Rivera about the need.

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